OUR REVIEW & RATING ★★★☆☆

The final instalment in Phase 2 of Marvel Cinematic Universe gives us Ant-Man quotes which for the most part are humorous and exciting. The story follows scientist Dr. Hank Pym, who discovered the Ant-Man technology, after being forced out of his company by his protégé Darren Cross, Pym recruits con-man Scott Lang and trains him as Ant-Man with the help of his daughter Hope to protect the secret behind the Ant-Man technology and to pull off a heist to steal Cross’ deadly suit known as Yellowjacket which Cross is using as a weapon for evil.

The film pretty much follows the formulaic Marvel superhero origin tale, one can only wonder if the original writer/director Edgar Wright would have added anything new to this formula but his brand of humor is certainly well peppered throughout the film and helps elevates it. The story suffers in structure in handling the balance between the humor and action but works well in presenting the Lang/Pym relationship.Where the film fails is in the presentation of the villainous Cross and his characterisation which is just so two dimensional and just not compelling enough. Marvel really needs to start re-thinking about their villains as it is seriously stuck in an unconvincing villain rut!

The main performances are rock solid; Rudd really nails his character of Lang/Ant-Man and brings in the right amount of cheekiness and seriousness. Michael Douglas is perfect as Hank Pym bringing the right amount of gravitas and is helped by a great back story between him and his daughter played by Evangeline Lilly, who also does well in presenting her character. Michael Peña also needs to be mentioned as he really steals the scenes he’s in and gets some of the funniest dialogue. The weakest link in all of this is Corey Stoll as Darren Cross, although Stoll is a good actor his character is simply unoriginal, bland and lacks the motivation a truly good villain needs.

Verdict: Yes, Ant-Man is pretty much a silly hero and there is a lot of Marvel superhero clichés but the cheeky humor saves the film for the most part and manages to connect itself competently to the Marvel Universe.

[1989 – Hank Pym enters a SHIELD facility]Dr. Hank Pym: Stark.Mitchell Carson: He doesn’t seem happy.Howard Stark: Hello, Hank. You’re supposed to be in Moscow.Dr. Hank Pym: I took a detour through your defense lab.[he places a vial containing a serum on the table]Peggy Carter: Tell me that isn’t what I think it is.Dr. Hank Pym: It depends if you think it’s a poor attempt to replicate my work. Even for this group, that takes nerve.Mitchell Carson: You were instructed to go to Russia. May I remind you, Dr. Pym, that you’re a soldier…Dr. Hank Pym: I’m a scientist.Howard Stark: Then act like one. The Pym Particle is the most revolutionary science ever developed, help us put it to good use.

Dr. Hank Pym: First you turn me into your errand boy and now you try to steal my research?Mitchell Carson: If only you’d protected Janet with such ferocity, Dr. Pym.Dr. Hank Pym: Ah.[suddenly Pym slams down Carson’s face on the table in anger, Peggy pulls him away]Peggy Carter: Easy, Hank.Dr. Hank Pym: You mention my wife again and I’ll show you ferocity.[Carson looks at Stark as he wipes blood from his nose]Howard Stark: Don’t look at me, you said it. Dr. Hank Pym: I formally tender my resignation.Howard Stark: We don’t accept it. Formally. Hank, we need you. The Pym Particle is a miracle. Please, don’t let your past determine the future.Dr. Hank Pym: As long as I am alive, nobody will ever get that formula.[Pym turns and leaves]

Mitchell Carson: We shouldn’t let him leave the building.Peggy Carter: You’ve already lied to him, now you want to go to war with him?Mitchell Carson: Yes! Our scientists haven’t come close to replicating his work.Howard Stark: He just kicked your ass full size. You really want to find out what it’s like when you can’t see him coming? I’ve known Hank Pym for a long time, he’s no security risk. Unless we make him one.

[Present Day – Scott Lang is in prison getting punched in the face by another prisoner, Peachy]Peachy: You like that? You like that? Come get you some then![the other prisoners are gathered around them cheering them along, Scott tries to hit Peachy in the stomach but he doesn’t flinch]Scott Lang: You didn’t even move.Peachy: Nah.Scott Lang: I mean, what if I come in on the left side, right? Just out here and see this here…[suddenly Scott punches Peachy in the face]Peachy: I’m gonna miss you, Scott.Scott Lang: I’m gonna miss you too, Peachy.[they shake hands]Scott Lang: Man, you guys got the weirdest goodbye rituals.[Scott says goodbye to the other inmates]

[Scott is escorted out of the prison and is met by his friend Luis]Luis: Scotty! What’s up, man! Damn!Scott Lang: Hey! Hey, man.[they embrace each other]Luis: Hey, what’s up with your eye?Scott Lang: Oh, well, what do you think. Peachy. His going away present.Luis: Oh, yeah, I still got my scar from a year ago.Scott Lang: Oh yeah.Luis: Yeah. Yeah, yeah. You know what? I’m still the only one to knock him out.Scott Lang: Well, I definitely didn’t.[they get into Luis’s van and drive off]

Scott Lang: Thanks for the hook-up too. I needed a place to stay.Luis: You wait ’til you see this couch, you’re gonna be really happy. You’re gonna be on your feet in no time, watch.Scott Lang: I hope so.Luis: Yeah. And I gotta introduce you to some people, some really skilled people.Scott Lang: Not interested.Luis: Yeah right!Scott Lang: No, I’m serious, man. I’m not going back. I got a daughter to take care of.Luis: You know that jobs don’t come easy for ex-cons, right?Scott Lang: Look man, I got a masters in electrical engineering, alright? I’m gonna be fine.

[Scott’s boss, Dale interrupts him serving the idiot customer]Dale: Can I see you in the back, chief? Pronto.Scott Lang: Sure thing, Dale. Darby, could you just, uh…[points to the customer]Scott Lang: …take care of this idiot? Thanks.

Dale: You really stuck it to those billionaire S.O.Bs. And the more I read about what you did and stuff, I’m like, “Wow, I know this guy? I’m in charge of this guy?” Yeesh!Scott Lang: Well, I’m very happy in this job, and I’m…I really just appreciate the opportunities and…Dale: Yeah, yeah. Well, you’re fired of course. I mean, I can’t really keep you on.Scott Lang: Wait, what? Fired?Dale: Yeah.Scott Lang: Dale, look, it wasn’t a violent crime, I mean, I’m a good worker.Dale: No, it wasn’t a violent crime. It was a cool crime. I’ll tell you what, though, this’d be totally off the books, off the records, but, uh…if you want to grab one of those Mango Fruit Blasts on your way out the door, I’ll just pretend I didn’t see it.

[after getting fired from Baskin Robbins Scott returns to the Luis’s apartment]Luis: Hey, Scotty, what’s up? I thought you were supposed to be at work?Scott Lang: I was, I got fired.Luis: Damn! They find out who you are?Scott Lang: Yep.Luis: Baskin Robbins always finds out, bro.Dave: Baskin Robbins don’t play.Luis: You want some waffles?Scott Lang: Yeah, I’ll take a waffle.

Luis: Oh. That’s Kurt. He was in Folsom for five years, he’s a wizard on that laptop.Kurt: Nice to meet you.Scott Lang: Yeah, nice to meet you too.[to Dave]Scott Lang: And who are you?Dave: Dave. Nice work on the Vista job.Kurt: Vista job? Yes. No, no, I have heard of this robbery.Scott Lang: Well, technically, I didn’t rob them. Robbery involves threat. I hate violence, I burgled them. I’m a cat burglar.Dave: You mean you’re a pussy?Scott Lang: Yeah.

Luis: They were overcharging the customers, right? And it added up to millions. He blows the whistle and he gets fired. And what does he do? He hacks into the security system, and transfers millions back to the people that they stole it from.Dave: Posts all the bank records online.Luis: And he drove dude’s Bentley into a swimming pool.Scott Lang: What are you doing? Hmm? Why are you telling my life’s story to these guys? What do you want?Luis: Okay. My cousin talked to this guy two weeks ago about this little, perfect job.Scott Lang: No way.Luis: No, no, no. Wait! This guy…this guy fits your M.O.Scott Lang: No! I’m finished man. I’m not going back to jail.Luis: It’s some retired millionaire living off his golden parachute, It’s a perfect Scott Lang mark.Scott Lang: I don’t care. I’m out.

Hope van Dyne: Good morning, Hank.Dr. Hank Pym: Hope. Would it kill you to call me dad?Hope van Dyne: Well, Dr. Cross will be so please that you could find the time to join us today.Darren Cross: More like, thrilled.[Cross walks over to Pym and shakes his hand]Dr. Hank Pym: I was surprised to receive any kind of invitation from you, Darren. What’s the occasion?Darren Cross: Oh, you’ll see. Won’t he, Hope?[Hope gives Pym a cold look]Hope van Dyne: We’re ready for you inside.[Hope walks away]Darren Cross: Ouch.

[referring to Hope]Darren Cross: I guess some old wounds never heal, huh? Don’t worry, she’s in good hands. You’re in for a treat.[Carson comes over to Pym as they are about to enter the lab]Mitchell Carson: Long time no see, Dr. Pym. How’s retirement?[they shake hands]Dr. Hank Pym: How’s your face?[Carson enters the lab]Hope van Dyne: After you.[Pym enters the lab]

Darren Cross: Now before we start I’d like to introduce a very special guest, this company’s founder and my mentor, Dr. Hank Pym.[everyone in the lab claps, at the same time Pym notices the miniature building of Pym Technologies has now got the logo Cross Technologies on it]Darren Cross: When I took over this company for Dr. Pym, I immediately started researching a particle that could change the distance between atoms while increasing density and strength. Why this revolutionary idea remained buried beneath the dust and cobwebs of Hank’s research, I couldn’t tell you. But just imagine. A soldier the size of an insect. The ultimate secret weapon.[he shows everyone footage reel of soldiers getting killed but with a tiny costumed figure also every footage]Darren Cross: An “Ant-Man”.[pointing to Pym]Darren Cross: That’s what they called you. Right, Hank?

Darren Cross: Silly, I know. Propaganda. Tales to astonish. Trumped up B.S. to scare the U.S.S.R. Hank, will you tell our guests what you told me every single time I asked you, was the Ant-Man real?Dr. Hank Pym: Just a tall tale.Darren Cross: Right. Because how could anything so miraculous possibly be real?[Cross leads everyone into another room]Darren Cross: Well I was inspired by the legend of the Ant-Man. And with my breakthrough, shrinking inorganic material, I thought, could it be possible to shrink a person? Could that be done? Well, it’s not a legend anymore. Distinguished guests, I am proud to present the end of warfare as we know it: the Yellowjacket.[he shows them a yellow insect sized suit]

Darren Cross: The Yellowjacket is an all-purpose weapon of war capable of altering the size of the wearer for the ultimate combat advantage.[he puts on a video]Video Voice Over: We live in an era in which the weapons we use to protect ourselves are undermined by constant surveillance. It’s time to return to a simpler age. One where the powers of freedom can once again operate openly to protect their interests. An all-purpose peace-keeping vessel. The Yellowjacket can manage any conflict on the Geo-political landscape, completely unseen. Efficient in both preventative measures and tactical assault. Practical applications include: surveillance, industrial sabotage, and the elimination of obstructions on the road to peace. A single Yellowjacket offers the user unlimited influence to carry out protective actions and one day soon, an army of Yellowjackets will create a sustainable environment of well-being around the world. The Yellowjacket.

Frank: So it’s a suit.Darren Cross: Don’t be crude, Frank. It’s not a suit, it’s a…it’s a vessel. What’s a matter, you’re not impressed?Frank: Oh, I’m impressed. I’m also concerned. Imagine what our enemies could do with this tech.Darren Cross: We should have a longer conversation about that, Frank. I really value your opinion. Thank you for coming. Hope?Hope van Dyne: Thank you very much, everybody. I will escort you out now. Thank you.

[as everyone leaves the room Pym walks over to Cross]Darren Cross: You seem a bit shocked.Dr. Hank Pym: Darren, there’s a reason that I buried these secrets.Darren Cross: So you finally admit it. We could’ve done this together, Hank. But you ruined that. That’s why you’re the past and I’m the future.Dr. Hank Pym: Don’t do this.Mitchell Carson: Dr. Cross.[Cross goes over to Carson]Mitchell Carson: You sell to me first, twenty percent of your asking price, I can have the cash here in two weeks.Darren Cross: Deal.

[after everyone leaves Cross’s presentation Hope goes over to Pym]Hope van Dyne: We have to make our move, Hank.Dr. Hank Pym: How close is he?Hope van Dyne: He still can’t shrink a live subject. Just give me the suit and let me finish this once and for all.Dr. Hank Pym: No.Hope van Dyne: I have Cross’s complete trust.Dr. Hank Pym: It’s too dangerous.Hope van Dyne: We don’t have a choice.Dr. Hank Pym: Well, that’s not entirely true.Hope van Dyne: I think I found a guy.Dr. Hank Pym: Who?

Paxton: What are you doing here, Lang? You haven’t paid a dime in child support. You know, right now if I wanted to, I could arrest you.Scott Lang: It’s good to see you too, Paxton.[Cassie comes back]Cassie Lang: Mommy’s so happy you’re here, she choked on her drink.Scott Lang: Hey, look what I have for you.[he hands her the small bag he’d brought]Cassie Lang: Can I open it now?Paxton: Of course sweetheart, it’s your birthday.[she takes out an ugly looking rabbit which talks]Hideous Rabbit: You’re my bestest friend!

[referring to the toy rabbit]Paxton: What is that thing?Cassie Lang: He’s so ugly! I love him! Can I go show my friends?Paxton: Yeah, of course sweetheart, go ahead.[Cassie runs off with the ugly rabbit to show her friends]Hideous Rabbit: You’re my bestest friend!

Scott Lang: Look, the child support is coming. Alright? It’s just hard finding a job when you have a record.Paxton: I’m sure you’ll figure it out, but for now I want you out of my house.Scott Lang: No, wait, it’s my daughter’s birthday!Paxton: It’s my house!Scott Lang: So what, it’s my kid![Maggie walks over to them]Maggie Lang: Scott! You can’t just show up here, you know that. Come on.Scott Lang: It’s her birthday party. Maggie Lang: Yeah, I know, but you can’t just show up.Scott Lang: She’s my daughter.

Paxton: You don’t know the first thing about being a father.Scott Lang: Maggie, I tell you this as a friend, and as the first love of my life, your fiancé is an ass-hat.Maggie Lang: He’s not an ass-hat.Paxton: Hey, watch your language. Okay?Scott Lang: Oh, what language. I said hat.

[Maggie takes Scott out of the house]Scott Lang: Really, Maggie? That guy? Come on, you could marry anyone you want, you have to get engaged to a cop?Maggie Lang: At least he’s not a crook.Scott Lang: I’m trying, okay? I’ve changed, and I’m straight, I had a job, and…I want to provide. I had a lot of time to think about it, and I love her. So much. I’ve missed so much time and I want to be a part of her life. What do I do?Maggie Lang: Get an apartment. Get a job, pay child support. And then we will talk about visitation, I promise. You’re her hero, Scott. Just, be the person that she already thinks you are.[Scott gets into Luis’s van, Cassie waves goodbye to him as he drives off honking the musical horn]

[Frank is in the bathroom taking a leak]Darren Cross: I’m sorry you have such deep concerns about the Yellowjacket, Frank.[Frank turns back in surprise to find Cross standing there watching him]Frank: Yeah, well, uh, unfortunately we can’t just do whatever we want. Would be nice though, right?[he chuckles as he washes his hands]Frank: But there are laws.Darren Cross: What laws? Of man? The laws of nature transcend the laws of man, and I’ve transcended the laws of nature.Frank: Darren, I don’t think you understand…[suddenly Cross uses a small device on Frank which vaporizes him into a blob of goo]Darren Cross: Hm. We still haven’t worked out all the bugs.[Cross uses a tissue to wipe the goo off the sink and dumps it into one of the toilets]Darren Cross: Goodbye, Frank.[he flushes the toilet and washes his hands]

[Cross and Hope are having dinner at a restaurant]Darren Cross: You know I’ve been thinking a lot about gratitude lately, and today during my morning meditation, an interesting thought occurred to me and I think it might apply to you too.Hope van Dyne: How’s that?Darren Cross: Gratitude can be forgiveness. I spent years carrying around my anger for Hank Pym. I devoted my genius to him. I could’ve worked anywhere. I chose my mentor poorly. You didn’t even have a choice. He never believed in you. It’s a shame what we had to do, but he forced us to do it, didn’t he? But we shouldn’t be angry, we should be grateful. Because his failures as a mentor, as a father, forced us to spread our wings.Hope van Dyne: You’re a success, Darren. You deserve everything coming your way.

[after sitting outside in the van trying to figure how many days he’s got left to see Cassie again, Scott returns to Luis’s apartment]Luis: Hey, what’s up, hotshot?[Scott doesn’t reply]Dave: Maybe he didn’t hear you.Luis: How was the party?[Scott goes to the fridge, takes out a beer bottle and takes a swig from it]Scott Lang: Tell me about that tip.Luis: What?Scott Lang: I want to know about that tip.Luis: Ooh, baby, it’s on!Dave: Hot dog!Luis: It’s so on right now!Dave: Look who grew a pair!

Scott Lang: Calm down, alright? I just need to know where it came from, it’s gotta be airtight.Luis: Okay. I was at a wine tasting with my cousin Ernesto, which was mainly reds, and you know I don’t love reds man, you know? But there was a rosé that saved the day, it was delightful. And he tells me about this girl Emily that we used to kick it with, it was actually the first pair of boobs that I ever touched.Scott Lang: It’s the wrong details. It’s wrong… It has nothing to do with the story. Go!

Luis: So, uh, he tells me that she’s working as a housekeeper now, right? And she’s dating this dude Carlos who’s a shot caller from across the bay and she tells him about the dude that she’s cleaning for. Right? That he’s, like, this big-shot CEO that is all retired now but he’s loaded. And so, Carlos and Ernesto are on the same softball team and they get to talking, right? And here comes the good part. Carlos says: “Yo, man. This guy’s got a big-ass safe just sitting in the basement, just chillin’.” Of course Ernesto comes to me cause he knows I’ve got mad thieving skills. Of course I ask him: “Did Emily tell Carlos to tell you to get to me what kind of safe it was? And he says: “Nah, dog. All she said is that it’s, like, super legit, and whatever’s in it has gotta be good!Scott Lang: What?

Kurt: Old man have safe.Luis: And he’s gone for a week.Scott Lang: Alright. There’s an old man, he’s got a safe, and he’s gone for a week. Let’s just work with that.Luis: Y’know what I’ sayin’.

[we see the group getting prepared and gathering the right gear for the robbery]Kurt: Landlines cut, cell signals jammed. No one will be making for distress call tonight.Luis: All check.Kurt: Check.Dave: Check.Luis: If the job goes bad, you know I got your back, right?Scott Lang: Don’t worry, it’s not gonna happen.[Scott leaves the van]Luis: I love it when he gets cocky.[as they guys stay in the van they watch Scott hop the fence into the house]Dave: Damn!

[through his earpiece]Scott Lang: Alarm is dead.Luis: Nice!Scott Lang: Alright, I’m moving through the house.[inside the house Scott finds a door with a thumbprint scanner]Scott Lang: There’s a fingerprint lock on the door.Luis: It’s got a what? Ernesto didn’t tell me nothin’ about that. Aw, man, are we screwed?Scott Lang: Not necessarily.[Scott quickly uses several household items to get a fingerprint from a door knob and uses that to successfully pass the thumbprint scanner]

Scott Lang: I’m in.Kurt: No alarms have been triggered. He’s in like the Flynn.[Scott opens the door and immediately sees the safe made of strong metal]Scott Lang: Oh, man.Luis: What is it?Scott Lang: Well they weren’t kidding, this safe is serious.Luis: How serious we talkin’, Scotty?Scott Lang: It’s a Carbondale. It’s from 1910, made from the same steel as the Titanic.Luis: Wow. Can you crack it?Scott Lang: Well, here’s the thing. It doesn’t do so well in the cold. Remember what that iceberg did?Luis: Yeah, man, it killed DiCaprio.Dave: It killed everybody.Kurt: But not kill the old lady. She still throw the jewel into the oceans.

[Scott gets to work to try and open the safe]Luis: What are you doing?Scott Lang: I poured water in the locking mechanism and froze it with nitrogen. Ice expands, metal doesn’t.Luis: What are you doing now?Scott Lang: Waiting. Waiting.[the safe door breaks open]Scott Lang: Nice.[Scott looks inside the safe]Luis: What is it, cash? Jewels?Scott Lang: Well there’s nothing here.Luis: What’d you say?

[Scott notices some blueprints and the original Ant-Man suit]Scott Lang: It’s a suit.Luis: What?Scott Lang: It’s an old motorcycle suit.Luis: There’s no cash, no jewelry, nothing?Scott Lang: No. It’s a bust.Luis: I’m really sorry, Scotty. I know you needed a score.[we see an ant with a camera on its back nearby recording Scott take the suit, inside his lab Hank is watching Scott]

[back at Pym Technologies Cross is about to perform the shrinking experiments with a lamb]Hope van Dyne: I thought we were using mice?Darren Cross: What’s the difference? Commence experiment 34C, organic atomic reduction.Hope van Dyne: Darren, maybe we should think…Darren Cross: Shrinking organic tissue is the centerpiece of this technology. I can’t go to the buyers with half a breakthrough.[Cross initiates the experiment and the lamb is vaporized to goo to Hope’s shock]Darren Cross: Experiment 34C results: Negative.[to the lab tech]Darren Cross: Sanitize the workstation, bring in subject 35C.

[back at Luis’s apartment in the bathroom, Scott looks at the suit he took from the safe]Scott Lang: Why would you lock this up?[he takes out the suit and looks at the helmet]Scott Lang: So weird.[he tries the suit on and steps into the bathtub to get a better look at himself in the mirror]Luis: Scott, what’s up man?[Scott closes the shower curtain then looks at the buttons on the gloves]Scott Lang: I wonder…what is this?[he presses the buttons and shrinks down to a tiny size]

[in his tiny form Scott stand and looks around him in shock, Scott then hears Hank’s voice speaking through the mask]Dr. Hank Pym: The world sure seems different from down here, doesn’t it, Scott?Scott Lang: What? Who…who said that?[Scott sees Luis open the shower curtains to take a shower]Scott Lang: Luis! Luis, down here!Dr. Hank Pym: It’s a trial by fire, Scott. Or in this case, water.[Luis turns on the water, after getting splashed around Scott falls out of the bathtub and onto the floor]Dr. Hank Pym: Guess you’re tougher than you thought.[Scott hears Luis about to get undressed]Scott Lang: Oh, I don’t want to see this.[as Luis drops his trousers onto the floor it knocks Scott through a hole in the apartment below]Scott Lang: Luis! Ahh! Son of a…!

[Scott falls into an apartment where a party is going on, he narrowly avoids getting stepped on before falling through the vent into another apartment gets sucked into a hoover, breaks out, encounters a mouse, then runs into a trap and is launched out the window where he returns to his normal size on top of a cab]Cab Driver: What the hell?

Dr. Hank Pym: Not bad for a test drive. Keep the suit, I’ll be in touch.Scott Lang: No, no. No, thank you.[Scott packs the suit up and sneaks it back into house and returns it into the safe, but the police are waiting for him as he goes to leave]Cop on Speaker: Put it down on the ground! You are under arrest!Scott Lang: No, I didn’t steal anything! I was returning something I stole.[Scott realizes he’s admitted to stealing and reluctantly kneels on the ground as he’s arrested]

[Paxton visits Scott as he’s sat in his cell]Paxton: You know, you almost had us convinced that you were going to change your ways. They were really rooting for you. It’s gonna break their hearts.Gale: You got a visitor.Scott Lang: Who?Gale: Your lawyer.Scott Lang: My lawyer?

[Scott is taken to a room where Pym is sat waiting for him]Dr. Hank Pym: I told you I’d be in touch, Scott. I’m starting to think that you prefer the inside of a jail cell.Scott Lang: Oh, man.Dr. Hank Pym: Sit down.[we see ants crawling over the camera in the room to obscure the conversation]Scott Lang: Sir, I’m sorry I stole the suit. I don’t even want to know why you have it.Dr. Hank Pym: Maggie was right about you.Scott Lang: How do you know about…?Dr. Hank Pym: The way she’s trying to keep you away from Cassie. The moment things get hard, you turn right back to crime.

Dr. Hank Pym: The way I see it, you have a choice. You can either spend the rest of your life in prison or go back to your cell and await further instructions.Scott Lang: I don’t understand.Dr. Hank Pym: No, I don’t expect you to. But you don’t have many options right now. Quite frankly, neither do I. Why do you think I let you steal that suit in the first place?Scott Lang: What?[we see flashback to Pym giving money to his housekeeper, Emily, so that she can tip Luis’s friends to tip off about the job]Dr. Hank Pym: Second chances don’t come around all that much. So next time you think you might see one I suggest you take a real close look at it.[Pym rises and leaves the room]

[referring to the ugly rabbit toy Scott gave her as Maggie is putting Cassie to sleep]Maggie Lang: Are you sure you don’t want a different toy?Cassie Lang: No, I love this one.Maggie Lang: Okay. Well, get some sleep then. I love you.[Maggie kisses Cassie on her head]Cassie Lang: Mommy?Maggie Lang: Hm?Cassie Lang: Is daddy a bad man? I heard some grownups say he’s bad.Maggie Lang: No. Daddy just gets confused sometimes, you know?

[as Scott is sat in his cell thinking several ants bring Scott the suit in its tiny form then enlarge it so that Scott can wear it, he quickly slip into it, zaps himself small to escape]Dr. Hank Pym: Smart choice. You actually listened for once.[Scott runs out of the cell]Dr. Hank Pym: Under the door.[as the prison alarm goes off Scott runs out of the building]Scott Lang: Okay. Where to now?Dr. Hank Pym: Hang tight.[some ants approach Scott]Scott Lang: What? What?!

[inside the police station]Paxton: Where the hell did he go?Gale: I have no idea, he just vanished.[into his radio]Paxton: Set up a five block perimeter, now![back to Scott; to the ants]Scott Lang: Get back, get back, get back!Dr. Hank Pym: Scott, these are my associates.Scott Lang: Huh? You got a camera on an ant? Yeah, sure, why not? Where’s the car?Dr. Hank Pym: No car, we’ve got wings. Incoming![a larg winged ant flies over Scott and lands in front of him]Dr. Hank Pym: Put your foot on the central node and not the thorax.Scott Lang: Are you ki…? How safe’s this…?Dr. Hank Pym: Get on the damn ant, Scott![Scott gets on the ant and as it flies off the police go on a manhunt for him]

[the winged ant has landed on a police car that’s looking for Scott]Scott Lang: Why am I on a police car? Shouldn’t I not be on a police car?Dr. Hank Pym: So they can give you a lift past their five block perimeter.Scott Lang: Woh. Alright. Now, what’s the next move?Dr. Hank Pym: Hang on tight.Scott Lang: Oh, this is easy. I’m getting the hang of this. Yank up to go up. It’s like a horse.Dr. Hank Pym: You’re throwing 2-47 off balance.Scott Lang: Wait, his name is 2-47?Dr. Hank Pym: He doesn’t have a name, he has a number Scott. Do you have any idea how many ants there are?[as the police car swerves]Scott Lang: Woh!Dr. Hank Pym: Maybe it’s 2-48.

[Scott wakes up in a bedroom and jumps up in shock when he sees Hope watching over him]Scott Lang: Hello. Who are you? Have you been standing there watching me sleep this whole time?Hope van Dyne: Yes.Scott Lang: Why?Hope van Dyne: Because the last time you were here you stole something.Scott Lang: Oh. Oh! Hey, look.[Scott goes to get out of bed but recoils when he sees insects crawling all over the floor]Scott Lang: Woh!Hope van Dyne: Paraponera clavata. Giant tropical bullet ants ranked highest on the Schmidt pain index, they’re here to keep an eye on you when I can’t. Dr. Pym’s waiting for you downstairs.[she turns and walks out of the room]Scott Lang: Who?

[calling out to Hope]Scott Lang: Hey, um, whose pajamas are these?[gets no response]Scott Lang: How am I supposed to do this?[Scott puts his foot down tentatively onto the floor and the ants make space for his foot]Scott Lang: Right, just one step at a time.[he slowly stops towards the door as the ants make room for his feet]Scott Lang: Ugh. You don’t bite me, I don’t step on you, deal?

Hope van Dyne: Take down the servers and Cross wouldn’t even know it. We don’t need this guy.[Scott enters the dining room where Pym and Hope are sat]Dr. Hank Pym: I assume that you’ve already met my daughter Hope.Scott Lang: I did. She’s great.Dr. Hank Pym: She doesn’t think that we need you.Hope van Dyne: We don’t. We can do this ourselves.Dr. Hank Pym: I go to all this effort to let you steal my suit, and then Hope has you arrested.Hope van Dyne: Okay, we can try this and when he fails I’ll do it myself.Dr. Hank Pym: She’s a little bit anxious. It has to do with this job, which, judging by the fact that you’re sitting opposite me, I take it that you’re interested in.Scott Lang: What job?

Dr. Hank Pym: Would you like some tea?Scott Lang: Uh, sure.[Pym pours Scott some tea]Dr. Hank Pym: I was very impressed with how you managed to get past my security system. Freezing that metal was particularly clever.Scott Lang: Were you watching me?Dr. Hank Pym: Scott, I’ve been watching you for a while, ever since you robbed Vista Corp. Oh, excuse me, burgled Vista Corp.[Scott see Hope smile to herself]Dr. Hank Pym: Vista’s security system is one of the most advanced in the business. It’s supposed to be unbeatable but you beat it. Would you like some sugar?Scott Lang: Yeah, thanks.[he sees two ants pushing two sugar cubes on the table towards his cup]Scott Lang: You know what, I’m okay.

[referring to the ants]Scott Lang: How do you make them do that?Dr. Hank Pym: Ants can lift objects fifty times their weight. They build, farm, they cooperate with each other.Scott Lang: Right. But how do you make them do that?[he sees the ants returning the sugar cubes into their bowl]Dr. Hank Pym: I use electromagnetic waves to stimulate their olfactory nerve center. I speak to them. I can go anywhere, hear anything, and see everything.Hope van Dyne: And still know absolutely nothing. I’m late to meet Cross.[Hope gets up and leaves]

[Scott raises his hand to ask a question]Scott Lang: Uh…Dr. Pym?Dr. Hank Pym: You don’t need to raise your hand, Scott.Scott Lang: Sorry, I just have one question. Who are you? Who is she? What the hell’s going on and can I go back to jail now?Dr. Hank Pym: Come with me.

[Pym takes Scott to his lab]Dr. Hank Pym: Twenty years ago I created a formula that altered atomic relative distance.Scott Lang: Huh?Dr. Hank Pym: I learned how to change the distance between atoms, that’s what powers the suit, that’s why it works.[they enter Pym’s lab]Scott Lang: Woh.Dr. Hank Pym: But it was dangerous. It was too dangerous. So I hid it from the world. And that’s when I switched gears and I started my own company.Scott Lang: Pym Tech.Dr. Hank Pym: Yes.

Dr. Hank Pym: I took on a young protégé called Darren Cross. Scott Lang: Darren Cross. He’s a big deal.Dr. Hank Pym: But before he was a big deal he was my assistant. I thought I saw something in him, a son I never had perhaps. He was brilliant, but as we became close he began to suspect that I wasn’t telling him everything. He heard rumors about what was called the Pym Particles, and he became obsessed with recreating my formula. But I wouldn’t help him so he conspired against me and he voted me out of my own company.Scott Lang: How could he do that?Dr. Hank Pym: The board’s chairman is my daughter, Hope. She was the deciding vote.

Dr. Hank Pym: But she came back to me when she saw how close Cross was to cracking my formula. The process is highly volatile. What isn’t protected by a specialized helmet can affect the brain’s chemistry. I don’t think Darren realizes this, and you know, he’s not the most stable guy to begin with.Scott Lang: So, what do you want from me?Dr. Hank Pym: Scott, I believe that everyone deserves a shot at redemption. Do you?Scott Lang: I do.Dr. Hank Pym: If you can help me, I promise I can help you be with your daughter again. Now are you ready to redeem yourself?Scott Lang: Absolutely. My days of breaking into places and stealing shit are done. What do you want me to do?Dr. Hank Pym: I want you to break into a place and steal some shit.

[Paxton receives a text from his partner, Gale, as he’s sat having breakfast with Maggie and Cassie]Maggie Lang: You going to be home for dinner tonight?[Paxton reads the text, “Lang’s “Lawyer” is Dr. Hank Pym, as in Pym Tech]Paxton: Uh, yeah. I’ll pick something up, text you.Maggie Lang: Okay. Good news?[Paxton gets up to leave]Paxton: Uh, I don’t know. It’s news.Cassie Lang: Are you trying to find my daddy?Paxton: Yeah, I am, sweetheart. I just want your daddy to be safe.Cassie Lang: Hope you don’t catch him.

[Pym is showing Scott photos of the people he used to worked with]Dr. Hank Pym: This isn’t the first time these guys have tried to get their hands on game changing weaponry. That’s Mitchell Carson, ex-head of defense at SHIELD, presently in the business of toppling governments. He always wanted my tech, and now, unless we break in and steal the Yellowjacket and destroy all the data, Darren Cross is gonna unleash chaos upon the world.Scott Lang: I think our first move should be calling the Avengers.Dr. Hank Pym: I’ve spent half my life trying to keep this technology out of the hands of a Stark. I’m sure as hell not gonna hand-deliver it to one now. This is not some cute technology like the Iron Man suit. This could change the texture of reality. Besides they’re probably too busy dropping cities out of the sky.

Scott Lang: Okay, then why don’t you just send the ants?Dr. Hank Pym: Scott, they are ants. Ants, they can do a lot of things, but they still need a leader. Somebody that can infiltrate a place that’s designed to prevent infiltration.Scott Lang: Hank, I’m a thief. Alright? I’m a good thief. But this is insane.[just then Hope enters the lab]Hope van Dyne: He’s right Hank and you know it. You’ve seen the footage, you know what Cross is capable of. I was against using him when we had months, now we have days. I’m wearing the suit.Dr. Hank Pym: Absolutely not!Hope van Dyne: I know the facility inside and out, I know how Cross thinks. I know this mission better than anybody here.Dr. Hank Pym: We need you close to Cross otherwise this mission cannot work.

Hope van Dyne: We don’t have time to screw around.Dr. Hank Pym: Hope, please. Listen to me, please…Hope van Dyne: He is a criminal. I’m your daughter.Dr. Hank Pym: No![Pym turns and sits down, Hope walks off in disappointment]Scott Lang: She’s right, Hank. I’m not your guy. Why don’t you wear the suit?Dr. Hank Pym: You think I don’t want to? I can’t. I spent years wearing it. It took a toll on me. You’re our only option.

Dr. Hank Pym: Before Hope lost her mother, she used to look at me like I was the greatest man in the world. And now she looks at me and it’s just disappointment. It’s too late for me, but not for you. This is your chance. The chance to earn that look in your daughter’s eyes, to become the hero that she already thinks you are. It’s not about saving our world, it’s about saving theirs.Scott Lang: Damn, that was a good speech.Dr. Hank Pym: Scott, I need you to be the Ant-Man.

[we see Scott wearing the Ant-Man suit with Pym and Hope training him]Dr. Hank Pym: In the right hands, the relationship between man and suit is symbiotic. The suit has power, the man harnesses that power. You need to be skillful, agile, and above all, you need to be fast. You should be able to shrink and grow on a dime, so your size always suits your needs.[Hope closes the door]Dr. Hank Pym: Now dive through the keyhole, Scott. You charge big, you dive small, then you emerge big.[Scott puts on the helmet and charges for the keyhole]Scott Lang: Ow![we hear him fail several times as he continues to shrink and dive through the keyhole]Scott Lang: Ah! Ow.[to Pym]Hope van Dyne: Useless.

[Hope trains Scott]Hope van Dyne: When you’re small energy is compressed so you have the force of a two hundred pound man behind a fist a hundredth of an inch wide, you’re like a bullet. You punch too hard, you kill someone, too soft, it’s a love-tap. In other words you have to know how to punch.Scott Lang: I was in prison for three years, I know how to punch.Hope van Dyne: Show me.[she puts up her hands and Scott hits her hand]Hope van Dyne: Terrible.

Scott Lang: You want to show me how to punch? [he puts up his hand like hers]Scott Lang: Show me…[suddenly Hope punches him in the face knocking him back]Hope van Dyne: That’s how you punch.Dr. Hank Pym: She’s been looking forward to this.Scott Lang: No kiddin’.Dr. Hank Pym: Hope trained in martial arts at a, uh, difficult time.Hope van Dyne: Oh, by difficult time, he means when my mother died. Dr. Hank Pym: We lost her in a plane crash.Hope van Dyne: It’s bad enough you won’t tell me how she died, could you please stop telling me that lie. We’re working here.

[as Scott is still recovering from her punch]Hope van Dyne: Alright princess, let’s get back to work.Scott Lang: Were you going for the hand?

[Pym finds Scott playing around with the suit’s regulator]Scott Lang: You know, I think this regulator is holding me back.Dr. Hank Pym: Do not screw with the regulator. If that regulator is compromised you would go sub-atomic.Scott Lang: What does that mean?Dr. Hank Pym: It means that you would enter a quantum realm.Scott Lang: What does that mean?Dr. Hank Pym: It means that you would enter a reality where all concepts of time and space become irrelevant as you shrink for all eternity. Everything that you know, and love, gone forever.Scott Lang: Cool. Yeah. I’m…if it ain’t broke.

Dr. Hank Pym: You’ve learned about the suit, but you’ve yet to learn about your greatest allies: the ants. Loyal, brave, and your partners on this job.[Pym and Hope watch as Scott shrinks in their back garden and goes running under the earth]Hope van Dyne: Paratrechina longicornis, commonly known as crazy ants, they’re lightning fast and can conduct electricity which makes them useful to fry out enemy electronics.[Scott comes across a crazy ant]Scott Lang: Oh, you’re not so crazy.[the crazy ant jumps on him, knocking Scott back]Scott Lang: Hey! You’re cute.[suddenly a herd of crazy ants crawl all over Scott]Scott Lang: Oh! Aaah![Scott turns himself back to normal size and he pops up through the ground]Scott Lang: That was a lot scarier a second ago.

[as they look at Pym Technologies building map]Scott Lang: It looks like the Futures lab has its own isolated power supply. Hope van Dyne: There’s a security guard posted around the clock, we’ll need you to take him out to deactivate the security systems.

[shrunk again and back under the earth, Scott goes looking for more ants]Scott Lang: Okay. Who’s next?[a massive ant comes up behind Scott]Hope van Dyne: Paraponera clavata.Scott Lang: I know. Bullet ants, right? Number one on the Schmidt pain index.[to the ants]Scott Lang: Hey, guys! Remember me from the bedroom?[as the ant goes to attack Scott pops back up the through the ground in his normal size]Scott Lang: Woh!

Hope van Dyne: The Yellowjacket pod is hermetically sealed and the only access point is a tube we estimate to be about five millimeters in diameter.Scott Lang: Why do I have a sick feeling in my stomach?Hope van Dyne: The tube is protected by a laser grid and we can only power that down for fifteen seconds.Dr. Hank Pym: You’re going to need to signal the crazy ants to blow the servers, retrieve the suit, and exit the vaults, before the backup power comes on.

[looking at another ant]Hope van Dyne: Camponotus pennsylvanicus.Dr. Hank Pym: Alternatively known as a carpenter ant. Ideal for ground and air transport.Scott Lang: Wait a minute, I know this guy. I’m going to call him Antony.Dr. Hank Pym: That’s good. That’s very good, because this time you’re really going to have to learn how to control him.[we see the ants pushing sugar cubes on the table]Dr. Hank Pym: Tell them to put the sugar in the teacup.

[we see Hope and Scott fight training, this time Scott lands a painful blow to Hope]Scott Lang: Oh, you okay, d…[Hope suddenly punches Scott in the face and then knocks him down with her legs; later as Scott is tending to his wound Hope]Hope van Dyne: Hank wants you outside for target practice.

Dr. Hank Pym: The suit has no weapons so I made you these discs. Red shrinks. Blue enlarges.[referring to another species of ant]Hope van Dyne: Solenopsis mandibularis.Dr. Hank Pym: Known for their bite, the fire ants have evolved into remarkable architects. They are handy to get you in and out of difficult places.

[back to Scott trying to get some ants to put the sugar cubes into the teacup]Dr. Hank Pym: You can do it Scott, come on.[one of the ants flies off and Scott takes off his earpiece in frustration]Scott Lang: They’re not listening to me.Hope van Dyne: You have to commit, you have to mean it. No shortcuts, no lies.Dr. Hank Pym: Throwing insults into the mix will not do anyone any good, Hope.Hope van Dyne: We don’t have time for coddling.Dr. Hank Pym: Our focus should be on helping Scott!Hope van Dyne: Really? Is that where our focus should be?

[Hope picks up the earpiece and uses it to instruct the ants to put the sugar cube into the teacup, then she gets a herd of ants to appear]Dr. Hank Pym: Hope![looking upset Hope walks over to Pym]Hope van Dyne: I don’t know why I came to you in the first place.[Hope leaves]Dr. Hank Pym: We can’t do this without her.

[as Hope is about to leave in her car Scott gets in]Hope van Dyne: Oh, God.Scott Lang: You gotta lock your doors. I mean, really. There’s some weird folks in this neighborhood.Hope van Dyne: Do you think this is a joke? Do you have any idea what he’s asking you to risk? You have a daughter.Scott Lang: I’m doing this for her.Hope van Dyne: You know when my mother died I didn’t see him for two weeks?Scott Lang: He was in grief.Hope van Dyne: Yeah, so was I, and I was seven. And he never came back, not in any way that counted. He just sent me off to boarding school.